Player Discussion Chris Tierney (C)

[Sweatred]

People are forgetting his role on the PK. Penalty kill is a teams most vulnerable part of a game and DJ really only trusts Paul, CT, Watson, Brown and a bit of Formenton.

That value alone exceeds any value we got out of Dadonov or White who didn't contribute to the PP or PK. The minor difference in 5v5 play makes CT more valuable plus he’s expiring and will command some positive value in the trade market.

 

[Micklebot]

People are forgetting his role on the PK. Penalty kill is a teams most vulnerable part of a game and DJ really only trusts Paul, CT, Watson, Brown and a bit of Formenton.

That value alone exceeds any value we got out of Dadonov or White who didn't contribute to the PP or PK. The minor difference in 5v5 play makes CT more valuable plus he’s expiring and will command some positive value in the trade market.

Small sample, but Pinto stepped right into a PK role upon joining the team. I suspect he'll take on more responsibility in that role if he makes the team. Formenton actually killed quite a bit when up with the team too, thanks in part to Watson being injured I suspect.

I'm not sure it's trust that keeps a guy like Norris off the PK for example, more likely in my mind that it's about managing icetime. Norris' energy is better used 5v5 and on the PP, where the alternative options are far behind him. If Tierney can PK just as well but is way behind at 5v5 or PP (not saying Norris is just as good on the PK, just a hypothetical for the sake of the discussion), then you maximize the assets by using him a lot on the PK to open up guys like Norris for use in roles where they excel over the alternative rather than tire them out in roles where their play is average.

I think Tierney plays a big role on the PK if he's still around because that's the only area he really excelled at last year, but I think Paul, Brown, Watson, Formenton, and Pinto would likely do fine, perhaps one of White or Norris will get a look though White needs to figure out faceoffs first.

 

[Sweatred]

Small sample, but Pinto stepped right into a PK role upon joining the team. I suspect he'll take on more responsibility in that role if he makes the team. Formenton actually killed quite a bit when up with the team too, thanks in part to Watson being injured I suspect.

I'm not sure it's trust that keeps a guy like Norris off the PK for example, more likely in my mind that it's about managing icetime. Norris' energy is better used 5v5 and on the PP, where the alternative options are far behind him. If Tierney can PK just as well but is way behind at 5v5 or PP (not saying Norris is just as good on the PK, just a hypothetical for the sake of the discussion), then you maximize the assets by using him a lot on the PK to open up guys like Norris for use in roles where they excel over the alternative rather than tire them out in roles where their play is average.

I think Tierney plays a big role on the PK if he's still around because that's the only area he really excelled at last year, but I think Paul, Brown, Watson, Formenton, and Pinto would likely do fine, perhaps one of White or Norris will get a look though White needs to figure out faceoffs first.

Running two rookies (Form and Pinto) as regular top 4 PKers is a bit risky … but I agree they looked decent in limited action. I think both are best suited to be above average bottom 6 players playing more PK than PP. They could be elite 3L players for us.

The reason White doesn’t kill penalties has very little to do with his poor performance on face offs.

Like it or not Tierney is good at somethings … he’s good at penalty killing (he was better when he was faster). Players need to have a skill or two that they are above average at or better above their team mates and he has that. Some players like White have nothing that separates them from anyone and they are less important to the team than CT.

Tierney easily outscores White if he plays all the PP time White had plus ice time with Scoring forwards. Throw in his use on the PK and at 27 he’s not the worst player on our team.

 

[AchtzehnBaby]

 

[mianjo]

Just think what he will be like when he actually scores using his stick.

 

[bert]

Playing a solid game out there. Contract year and looks like he wants to continue playing in the league. Formenton is such a good player for Tierney to have on his line from a stylistic pov. Always making room, stretching defenders and hard on the forcheck.

 

[ReginKarlssonLehner]

3rd round pick or more and im over the moon.

 

[Tuna99]

Just think what he will be like when he actually scores using his stick.

might see more of these banking in plays - like the player in front of the net is literally just a Pilon and you bank it in off of him. It’s been working - think you’ll see more of it

 

[Joeyjoejoe]

We're getting a 1st plus Giroux for this 50 goal scorer.

 

[Dionysus]

His skating is looking better this year, not behind the play like he was last season. Slotting in as a 3rd line centre, not a match-up guy, is great as well.

 

[Sweatred]

What a Great start - hope he has a great year and gets us a good piece at the deadline.

Nice to see what he can bring on PP2 -

 

[DrEasy]

Strange how being healthy helps improve your play.

 

[cudi]

 

[DrEasy]

Wally and Methot also alluded to it in the episode with Jacques Martin.

When someone's performance drops off unexpectedly, the reason is usually injury. Tierney isn't going to turn into Connor McDavid overnight, but he's better than what he showed last year.

 

[dumbdick]

Running two rookies (Form and Pinto) as regular top 4 PKers is a bit risky … but I agree they looked decent in limited action. I think both are best suited to be above average bottom 6 players playing more PK than PP. They could be elite 3L players for us.

Pinto is not a third line player.

 

[TheDebater]

If true that he had an injury all year (obviously not serious enough to miss time, but certainly affected his play) then he definitely got some unfair criticism from people (myself included) so hopefully for his sake he has a better season for us this year and we can either trade him for decent value or sign him to a short-term extension (which I doubt he does considering this could be his last chance to sign a big deal with someone) but he his ceiling is definitely a very reliable 3rd line center who can play in all situations.

 

[Hale The Villain]

Scoring 3 of the ugliest goals I've ever seen (one off of skate, one off of shaft of stick, one flutter puck) is making people think he's back to being a good player, when it's more likely he's just been lucky.

 

[cudi]

Scoring 3 of the ugliest goals I've ever seen (one off of skate, one off of shaft of stick, one flutter puck) is making people think he's back to being a good player, when it's more likely he's just been lucky.

I've not seen many call him that. Just expecting him to be better than last year which shouldn't be hard to do

 

[Adele Dazeem]

Scoring 3 of the ugliest goals I've ever seen (one off of skate, one off of shaft of stick, one flutter puck) is making people think he's back to being a good player, when it's more likely he's just been lucky.

Hey I'm one of his biggest critiques, but if he can inflate his point totals I'm all for it. Trading him for, dare I say, a 1st round pick would be great business; if we're not in a Playoff position...

 

[swiftwin]

Hey I'm one of his biggest critiques, but if he can inflate his point totals I'm all for it. Trading him for, dare I say, a 1st round pick would be great business; if we're not in a Playoff position...

Right now? No.

At the TDL if we're out of the playoff race, and White is drawing back into the line up? Yes.

 

[DrEasy]

Hey I'm one of his biggest critiques, but if he can inflate his point totals I'm all for it. Trading him for, dare I say, a 1st round pick would be great business; if we're not in a Playoff position...

Nah, he's not going to return a 1st rounder. My hope is the following:

- Paul returns a 2nd (useful player for a playoff team)
- Tierney returns a 3rd (or a 2nd if he has a really good season)
- Forsberg returns a 3rd or 4th

 

[Adele Dazeem]

Right now? No.

At the TDL if we're out of the playoff race, and White is drawing back into the line up? Yes.

Obviously at the deadline; with his cap hit he would be a very valuable asset if he keeps pace and is at around 35-45points.

 

[Micklebot]

Right now? No.

At the TDL if we're out of the playoff race, and White is drawing back into the line up? Yes.

If we're offered a 1st for Tierney right now that would be pretty hard to turn down even though we really need him at the moment.

 

[Hale The Villain]

I've not seen many call him that. Just expecting him to be better than last year which shouldn't be hard to do

That shouldn't be difficult, but from what I've seen from the pre-season and the first 3 games he still has a bad shot, is often behind the play and extremely soft and weak on the puck.

If we could get something like a 3rd for him we should be thrilled, but I can't see many playoff teams interested in him for anything beyond a 4th line center role.

 

[swiftwin]

If we're offered a 1st for Tierney right now that would be pretty hard to turn down even though we really need him at the moment.

You're right it's really good value. But it can also derail the decent start to our season and send a really bad message to the team.